Slat-fastener



(NofModel.) Y

' o. I.. J. BARKER.

SLAT FASTENER Patented Jan. 2

FIG-3 ,arnnr @rrrcn CLARENCE I. J. BARKER, OF DAVID CITY, NEBRASKA.

SLAT-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 511,922, dated January 2, 1894.

Application filed July 19J 1893. Se1ialllo.`480.940. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may con/c6771,.-

Beit known that I, CLARENCE I. J. BAKKER, a citizen of theUnited States,residing atDavid City, in the county of Butler and State of Nebraska,have invented a new and useful Slatliastener, of which the following is a specifica- My invention relates to a fastening device for slats and is designed to be employed in the construction of numerous articles composed essentially of slats, such as waste-paf per, clothes, fruit, and card baskets, wall-pockets, umbrella, broom and sponge racks, the., the object being to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient retaining device or holder for the connection and spacing of the slats in securing the same to a frame or a board which forms the bottom of a vessel or container.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings I have illustrated a basket suitable for containing fruit, as a means of illustratingtheconstruction,arrangement and operation of the fastener embodying my invention, and referring thereto- Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the fastener detached.' Fig. 5 is a view of the blank before the fastener is shaped.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures of the drawings.

The improved fastener is preferably struck from sheet-metal, and comprises the strap or body portion l, provided at intervals with the oppositely-extending ears 2, between which are arranged the inwardly bent spacingiianges 3, which are arranged perpendicular to the plane of the strap and are adapted to iit between the contiguous edges of the slats 4. These spacinganges are provided at their free edges with inwardly-bent lips 5, which are tapered at their lateral extremities to form the engaging-spurs G. The lips 5 lie in planes substantially parallel with the strap or body portion of the fastener, such lips being arranged in pairs, namely: upper and lower, the contiguous edges of which are separated or spaced to form slots 8. Thus the rearwardly-bent spaeing-flanges and the twin upwardly and downwardly bent lips, carried respectively by such spacing-flanges, when taken in combination with the strap or body portion of the fastener, form substantially dovetailed channels 9, the entrances to which are through the slots formed by the adjacent edges of the lips.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the bottom l0 of the basket is provided with peripheral spaced points or projections, extended in the plane of the bottom, and [itting within the channels formed by the spacing-anges and lips, in combination with the strap as above described. The upwardly and downwardly extending ears 2 bear against the outer surfaces of the slats 3, and are slightly curved to the rear toward their free ends in order to exert a spring action upon the slats to compensate for shrinkage of the latter, and thus maintain them against rattling. The terminal spurs with which the lips are provided engage and take into the opposing side-faces of the slats, thus holding the latter against longitudinal displacement.

From the above description it will be understood that. a fastening device constructed as shown may be employed in connection with rectangular vessels as well as with those that are circular in plan; and while I have described my invention as applied to a basket and arranged in a horizontal plane encircling the bottom -of the vessel, and connecting the upper ends of the slats respectively, it will be-apparent that the position thereof with relation to the members of the structure to which it is applied may be varied according to the requirements. It will be understood, furthermore, that after forming the fastener it may be attached to the slats by bending or curving it backwardly in order to separate the engaging spurs sufficiently to insert the slats therebetween; and upon rebending the fastener, said spurs will be caused to take into the material of the slats.

When made in the proper proportions, the improved fastener may be employed effectively in the construction of inclosures, such as fences and the like; and hence it will be understood that I do not desire to be limited to any particularly industry or special application of the device.

Furthermore, various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A slat fastener comprising a strap provided With integral perpendicularly-disposed spacing-flanges, provided with spurs to engage the slats substantially as specified.

2. A slat fastener comprising a strap having spaced perpendicularly-disposed spacingflanges arranged longitudinally of the strap and provided with terminal spurs, to engage the slats substantially as specified.

3. A slat fastener comprisinga fiexible strap of sheet metal provided with upstruck spaced flanges having engaging spurs or points, substantially as specified.

4.. A slat fastener comprising a strap provided With perpendicularly-disposed spacinganges, to fit between the slats and intermediately-disposed ears arranged approximately in the plane of the strap, to bear against the surfaces of the slats substantially as specified.

5. A slat fastener comprising a strap provided With perpendicularly-disposed spacingllanges, and intermediately-arranged ears disposed substantially in the plane of the strap and curved rearwardly to bear at their terminals against the surfaces of the slats and prevent looseness, substantially as specified.

6. A slat fastener comprising a strap provided with spurred spacing-flanges arranged at intervals, and spring-ears interposed between said flanges to bear against the surfaces of the slats, substantially Vas specified.

7. A slat fastener comprising a strap provided With spacing-flanges arranged at intervals and terminating in inturned lips arranged in pairs with their contiguous edges spaced to form slots, substantially as specified.

8. A metallic slat fastener comprising a strap provided upon its rear side with spaced ilanges having inturned lips terminating contiguous to each other to form dove-tailed channels 9, substantially as specified.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a Slat fastener struck from sheet-metal and comprising a strap or body portion provided at intervals With oppositely-extending ears and intermediately-disposed fianges perpendicular to the plane of the strap, said flanges having inturned terminal lips carrying spurs or points, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE I. J. BARKER.

Witnesses:

E. B. TAYLOR, C. H. MURLIN. 

